Based in Pomona, California, neurosurgeon Ali Mesiwala, MD, serves as medical director of Chaparral Medical Group, Inc. Well-published in his field and a member of SI Bone, Inc., Ali Mesiwala, MD, coauthored the presentation “One Year Follow-up of Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Sacroiliac Joint Fixation” through the Southern California Center for Neuroscience and Spine.

Traditional open sacroiliac (SI) joint fixation surgeries are associated with physical restrictions and long patient recovery times. In recent years, a minimally invasive approach that employs three titanium dowels has been developed for fixating the SI joint.

A review of nearly 100 patients who had not responded to non-surgical treatment and went through unilateral or bilateral SI fixation for degenerative joint disease/instability revealed significant post-operative improvement. Among patients without previous lumbar surgery, success was achieved within six months. Those with prior lumbar surgery achieved successful results within three months. In addition to these positive results, Dr. Mesiwala and his colleagues noted that there was no evidence of permanent complications, and patients reported no physical limitations.

A longtime neurosurgeon with the Chaparral Medical Group, Inc., in Southern California, Ali Mesiwala, MD, has extensive experience in spine and lower back pain. In 2012, Ali Mesiwala, MD, presented on “Sacroiliac Joint: The Forgotten Back Pain Generator” at a professional meeting in Ontario, California.

Commonly known as the SI joints, these sit on either side of the spine and are responsible for carrying the upper body’s weight when walking or standing, shifting the load to the legs. Associated with lower back pain, SI joint pain can be either sharp or dull, and begins at the joint itself. It often extends to the upper back, groin, thighs, and buttocks.

SI joint pain can be triggered by common movements such as standing up, and is often experienced on only one side of the back. Caused by inflammation, it is associated with pregnancy, arthritis, and unusual ways of walking that in turn cause the joint to move abnormally. Treatment protocols include chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, and cortisone shots. In addition, a recently developed technique known as SI joint fixation provides a minimally invasive surgical approach to treating the condition.

Ali Mesiwala, MD provides treatment for spine and neurological conditions as a neurosurgeon for the Chaparral Medical Group in Pomona, California. Additionally, Ali Mesiwala, MD leads the division of neurological surgery for the St. Bernardine Medical Center, a nonprofit health care facility that operates under the administration of Dignity Health. The St. Bernardine Medical Center and other Dignity Health affiliates allow patients to access their medical information digitally through the Online Patient Center.

Designed for convenience and security, the Online Patient Center enables patients to review a variety of medical documentation, such as personal health records, laboratory and imaging results, and clinical summaries. Other information provided by the database includes instructions and educational information specific to the patient’s treatment plan. Patients may also use the Online Center to view upcoming appointments, transmit summaries to providers, and message participating health care teams through a secure database.

The Online Patient Center is compatible for use alongside other online patient databases used by a broad range of doctor’s offices. Dignity Health patients receive an email invitation to the Online Center during their hospital visit.

An extension of the Chaparral Medical Group, the IVDMC works with patients diagnosed with diseases to provide assistance with successful self-management of their conditions. The clinic helps patients improve their overall health and reduce the possibility of developing complications such as nerve damage, lower leg amputations, and diseases of the heart and kidneys. Patients receive care from a registered dietitian and nurse practitioner who perform personalized assessments and create individualized treatment plans.

Services offered by the clinic range from support groups and self-management classes to medical nutrition and insulin pump therapies. Additionally, it administers a diabetes education program and delivers customized programs to meet the needs of pediatric and adolescent patients.